Relationship between activin A level and infarct size in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing successful primary coronary intervention

BackgroundActivin A, a member of the transforming growth factor-β cytokine family, has been suggested to have a role in inflammation. We examined the serum level of activin A in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).MethodsThe subjects were 30 AMI patients, 20 stable angina pectoris (AP) patients and 20 normal subjects. The serum levels of activin A in AMI patients were measured before PCI and on days 1, 2, 7, and 14.ResultsActivin A levels before PCI in AMI patients (557 ± 255 pg/ml) showed a significantly higher value than those in AP patients (364 ± 159 pg/ml) and control subjects (316 ± 144 pg/ml). Increased serum activin A level before PCI was decreased on day 2, and then gradually re-elevated on days 7 and 14. The serum activin A level before PCI was correlated with log-transformed peak creatine kinase (CK) as a surrogate of infarct size (r = 0.48, p = 0.008). Stepwise multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the serum activin A level before PCI was an independent predictor of peak CK.ConclusionsThe serum activin A level, increased in AMI, was positively correlated with peak CK and CK-MB levels which are measures of infarction size.